Let's Pod This

It's been a hell of a week in Oklahoma politics. Andy, Scott, & Bailey discuss two very public reminders that racism still runs rampant in our state. Also, another legislative deadline has passed, and with it so did a surprising number of downright terrible bills, which now move to the opposite chamber for consideration. Vaccines are up, Covid cases are down, so Governor Stitt thinks it's a good time to go ahead and lift the few meager restrictions he put in place.

Articles referenced or discussed:

• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to lift coronavirus restrictions, despite CDC warnings
• Announcer who used racial slur against Norman basketball team 'cannot explain' comments, blames medical condition for outburst
• Oklahoma House passes $500 million income tax reduction

Andy, Bailey, & Scott discuss OESC's $4.4 billion of unemployment payments, Governor Stitt's op-ed to conservatives (in which he said he trusts Oklahomans but not the government), Broken Arrow's very belated (and mostly useless) mask statement, and the American Rescue Plan.

The first deadline week of the 2021 legislative session did not disappoint! Andy & Bailey discuss bills that would do things like: allow the Governor to appoint US Senators, eliminate the state's corporate income tax, and authorize the state legislature to deem a Presidential executive order as unconstitutional. (For the record, that's not things work in America.)

Andy, Scott, and Bailey defrost from this week's deep freeze And catch up on what the legislature managed to get done despite the weather. Also, a reminder: if you are an elected official and your state is experiencing a crisis, don't go to on vacation.

In addition to the usual weekly round-up, Andy, Scott, & Bailey are joined by Elly Page, Senior Legal Advisor with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) in Washington, DC, and founder of ICNL’s US Protest Law Tracker, to discuss the more than 10 bills proposed by Oklahoma lawmakers this session that aim to intimidate, criminalize, and/or punish Oklahomans who exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.

Corresponding blog post: Two is Company; Three’s a Riot: Oklahoma Lawmakers Unleash a Barrage of Anti-Free Speech Bills in the 2021 Session.

Our 2021 legislation tracker

Andy, Scott, & Bailey discuss Governor Stitt's "State of the State" address that was delivered this week and try to answer questions like Was it really a state of the state...or was it a pre-campaign stump speech? What did he mean by "The People's Agenda" (and who are these "people?") What constitutes being a "Top Ten State?"

• Full text of the speech (Governor's Office)
• Full text w/ annotations and fact checking (Oklahoma Watch)

We're joined by state Senator Julia Kirt to hear her [very well-rounded] take on what to expect this session from the legislature, the Governor, the budget, and everything else. We guarantee you'll learn something in this one!

More than 3,000 bills have been filed for the upcoming legislative session - a new record for Oklahoma. We discuss the good, the bad, and the unconstitutional and what impact these bills may have on how things go at the Capitol this spring.

Links mentioned:

• Our blog post: "How to Track Legislation"
• OK Legislature website
• LegiScan website

Governor Stitt wants all students back to in-person schooling...but on what authority (and science) is he basing that decision? Will the Senate actually hold a trial of President Trump? What should we expect from the upcoming legislative session? All that and more!

We discuss the siege on the US Capitol and the potential implications and paths forward for America.